Dean Etheridge
There’s another round of MLS matches this Wednesday night, including a massive fixture between two teams at the top of the Western Conference.
Yes, third-place Colorado Rapids host conference leaders Seattle Sounders at DSG Park, and that’s the match we’re focusing on for our midweek MLS picks.
- Match – Colorado Rapids v Seattle Sounders | MLS Western Conference
- Venue – DSG Park, Commerce City, Colorado, US
- Date – Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
- Time – 9pm ET
The Sounders have opened up a bit of a lead at the top of the conference. Currently, they have 57 points.
That’s five clear of second-place Sporting KC on 52 points. And six clear of the Colorado Rapids who sit third on 51 points.
The Sounders are also second favorites at +350 to win the end-of-season MLS Cup. They currently sit behind New England Revolution in soccer betting.
The Revolution is +210 with BetUS to win the trophy for the first time in their history.
| 2021 MLS Cup Winner Betting |  |  |
| New England Revolution | +200 | +210 |
| Seattle Sounders | +333 | +350 |
| Colorado Rapids | +750 | +700 |
| Nashville | +800 | +1000 |
| Sporting KC | +1000 | +1000 |
| Philadelphia | +1100 | +1100 |
| Portland | +1100 | +1200 |
Rapids will be looking for more consistency
The Rapids recent form is a bit up and down. Their last five MLS matches read LWLWD.
The most recent fixture was a 3-1 defeat away at the hands of Real Salt Lake last weekend.
In that fixture, the Rapids managed 51% possession with 12 attempts on goal, just 3 of which were on target. Opponents, Salt Lake, only had 8 attempts on goal, with 5 on target.
The Rapids had enough of the game but just weren’t clinical enough in the final third of the pitch.
"It was just not good enough." pic.twitter.com/8ZUSf2KPtB
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) October 17, 2021
They have managed 7 goals in their last five matches. During the same period, they have conceded 7 times.
Both teams to score has only been yes in two of those five fixtures. While over 2.5 goals has won four out of five times.
Sounders winning run brought to an end
As for the Sounders, they’ve had a far better time of things lately. Brian Schmetzer’s team has a record of LWWWW.
The defeat was 2-1 away to Houston Dynamos last weekend. In that match, the Sounders had 58% possession, with 11 shots on goal, and only 3 on target.
As for the Dynamos, they had 13 efforts at goal, also with just 3 on target.
Across the Sounders’ five matches, both teams to score has been yes four times. While in overs and under market, over 2.5 goals has won on every single one of the five matches.
Included in that recent run of victories is a 3-0 home win for the Sounders over Colorado at the start of October.
In that fixture, the stats were all fairly equal. Despite that, the match was over at half-time thanks to goals by Cristian Roldan (2 mins), Jimmy Medranda (22) and Joao Paulo Mior (45+1).
In their next match, Seattle clinched their place in the end of season playoffs with a 4-1 home win over Vancouver.
13 Seasons.
13 Postseasons. pic.twitter.com/2MyflYVMcb— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) October 10, 2021
Rapids v Sounders Match Betting
Home advantage sees the Rapids go into this match as favorites with the top sportsbooks.
On the form, you would have to say the Sounders should be the betting favorites, but the sportsbooks believe that playing at DSG Park makes a big difference.
Also, the fact that Seattle is now in the playoffs may be influencing the Moneyline.
The latest match odds betting from Bovada reads
- Colorado +100
- Draw +260
- Seattle +275
It’s a tough match to call, and the Sounders do have some injuries starting to mount up. But they are in the better form, and I just think at odds of +275, Seattle has to be taken to win.
Goals Betting
If you are a touch reluctant to back Seattle, then it might be worth a look at the goals markets instead.
- Over 2.5 Goals -110
- Under 2.5 Goals -110
The overs and unders spread is identical, suggesting the sportsbooks think there is a decent chance the two sides might cancel each other out.
There is a slight chance of that happening, I can’t dispute that. But the Sounders’ last five matches have seen a total of 18 goals scored. That’s 13 for and 5 against.
With form like that, I believe that over 2.5 goals has to be taken at -110.
In the Both Teams To Score betting market, it is similar odds.
- BTTS Yes -110
- BTTS No -110
While this match could end up 2-1 either way or 2-2, the last fixture between these two sides finished 3-0.
Yes, that was at the Sounders’ Lumen Field ground, but it was still a one-sided scoreline.
The stats paint a different story to the score though!
Seattle had 49% possession with 10 attempts on goal, 6 on target. Colorado had slightly more possession (51%), and also had 10 attempts on goal, 5 of which were on target.
The Rapids also played the last 30 minutes with 10 men after Lucas Esteves was sent off. So this shows it was a pretty equal match, and with better finishing, both teams to score would have won.
Personally, I’m not going to bet on this outcome for this match. I think it has a good chance of happening, but I’m happy to just go with my over 2.5 goals bet, and my wager on Seattle to win.
What’s next for both teams?
After this fixture, it’s another huge clash for the Sounders, as on Saturday they host Sporting KC.
For the Rapids, they host fourth-place Portland, as the Western Conference really comes to an exciting climax.
